Children can't play tackle football on the playground today, they can't play real dodgeball during P.E. and if there is any slight possibility that anyone might crack a fingernail or skin a knee, well, that activity is out as well.
So, what is allowed and encouraged? This nonsense.
If you believe our nation is headed down the tubes, this should help build your case. There is now actual school competition around CUP STACKING! The PC world is continuing to stretch the outer limits of complete absurdity and stupidity.
Is is any wonder that our society is producing a shortage of real men when this is considered a sport?
If you know me, you know this is one of my patented rants.
Return our schools to genuine sports. To real physical education activities. To real competition. To real cardio and strength building activities and weight loss.
HELP STAMP OUT CUP STACKING!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Good News from the Election
If you're expecting one of those handwringing diatribes from a disappointed evangelical Christian right wing type, you've come to the wrong place.
I haven't been listening to Michael Stipe crooning "The End of the World As We Know It" and seeking to find a bunker in Montana to crawl into. I really do feel fine, even though I am a little red-eyed from watching 10 channels of election coverage in rapid fire succession.
Don't get me wrong, I am not pleased ...
about Barack Obama appointing federal judges for the next four years.
about a pro-abortion president being in office.
about any president who is intent on forcing wealth re-distribution on all of us.
But I am ...
proud America has elected its first African-American president. I would have been more excited and proud if it had been Condoleeza Rice or J.C. Watts.
proud a revolution took place in America last night and not a shot was fired.
pleased we have president who is physically able to play a respectable game of hoops and understands every day should include some basketball.
glad our new president expresses faith in Jesus Christ, even if his positions don't seem to line up with that faith. Heck, quite a few of my actions and positions don't line up with my Savior either.
jubilant about how many new voters took part in the election.
pumped up that America is truly the land of opportunity, where anyone can be president.
pleasantly surprised that a gay marriage ban was put on the books in California by voters. My guess is the afore-mentioned Mr. Stipe is probably not feeling fine about that balloting.
expecting in four to eight years there will be counter-revolution, complete with genuine conservative principles of governing. Remember the name Bobby Jindal, the current governor of Louisiana. He will be the next Republican president, either in 2012 or 2016. Count on it.
I will preach on one point here. It's time we cut George W. Bush a break. Try being president during a massive terrorist attack and the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. He didn't create either of these situations. He just had to deal with them.
I have plenty of differences of opinion with W. But I do think history will be much kinder to him than America has been for the last 12 months.
I haven't been listening to Michael Stipe crooning "The End of the World As We Know It" and seeking to find a bunker in Montana to crawl into. I really do feel fine, even though I am a little red-eyed from watching 10 channels of election coverage in rapid fire succession.
Don't get me wrong, I am not pleased ...
about Barack Obama appointing federal judges for the next four years.
about a pro-abortion president being in office.
about any president who is intent on forcing wealth re-distribution on all of us.
But I am ...
proud America has elected its first African-American president. I would have been more excited and proud if it had been Condoleeza Rice or J.C. Watts.
proud a revolution took place in America last night and not a shot was fired.
pleased we have president who is physically able to play a respectable game of hoops and understands every day should include some basketball.
glad our new president expresses faith in Jesus Christ, even if his positions don't seem to line up with that faith. Heck, quite a few of my actions and positions don't line up with my Savior either.
jubilant about how many new voters took part in the election.
pumped up that America is truly the land of opportunity, where anyone can be president.
pleasantly surprised that a gay marriage ban was put on the books in California by voters. My guess is the afore-mentioned Mr. Stipe is probably not feeling fine about that balloting.
expecting in four to eight years there will be counter-revolution, complete with genuine conservative principles of governing. Remember the name Bobby Jindal, the current governor of Louisiana. He will be the next Republican president, either in 2012 or 2016. Count on it.
I will preach on one point here. It's time we cut George W. Bush a break. Try being president during a massive terrorist attack and the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. He didn't create either of these situations. He just had to deal with them.
I have plenty of differences of opinion with W. But I do think history will be much kinder to him than America has been for the last 12 months.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Is Your Church Color Blind?
Generation WE: The Movement Begins... from Generation We on Vimeo.
Both of my sons are color blind. And I confess I love it because they see differently than I do. I am just blind, but at least my vision is becoming more Christ-focused when it comes to color.
They can discern green from red or brown from blue, but when it comes to human beings, they just don’t SEE the way I do.
When I ask them for a physical description of a friend they are speaking of, it invariably begins with a phrase like “they have curly hair” or “they’re taller than I am” or “they wear glasses.’’ To be completely honest, in contrast, when I describe a person, I too often find myself starting with different labels, tagging someone as Asian, Hispanic or Black. My sons Ethan and Spenser, NEVER start a description with those labels.
They tell me they think racism is ridiculous, and when they hear racism coming from the mouths and actions of some of our older family members, it gnaws at their hearts. It gnaws at my heart, too, but it’s the pain of a recovering racist, not the pain of a heart that has never validated racism. But that’s my story for another day.
It’s a sign of progress. A sign of the times. A sign churches need to pay close attention to if you are going to succeed in Young Adult Ministry.
Let me give you some statistics from a newly published book called Generation We, which does an exhaustive study of today’s 18 to 29 year olds. It’s an interesting book, but let me forewarn you the authors of this book don’t look at this generation through a Christian lens, but instead through a political lens, so read it with discernment. You may pick up some of that from the video I have posted above.
The statistics are eye-popping.
This generation is the most diverse in American history. Hispanics make up 18 percent of the population, Blacks are 14 percent of this population and Asians number five percent of this generation.
82 percent of White 18- to 25-year-old Millennials in 2003 disagreed with the idea that they “don’t have much in common with people of other races.”
95 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they approve of Blacks and Whites dating,
and 60 percent of this age group said they had dated someone of a different race.
These are some of the secondary reasons Threads Media has just released the Bible study Red Revolution, a message about seeing the world through the lens of Christ. It’s because this view of the world is essential to successful Young Adult Ministry in any church.
The primary reason is because Jesus Christ taught us to love and reach out to all nations without boundaries.
So, let’s be honest for a minute and let me ask some tough questions.
Is your church really ready for complete racial diversity or are you still living in a church culture that maintains Sunday morning as the most racially divided hours of the week?
Do the people at your church have trouble treating people in interracial marriages like every other couple who walks through the doors of your church? Do you really subscribe to 1 Corinthians 6:14-18 as THE litmus test for marriage?
Would it cause a stir if a Black college student began dating the White daughter of a deacon in your church?
Would it cause a problem if an Asian young woman who was adopted by a family in your church many years ago grew up to marry a White young man she had been friends with since they began attending church together in the first grade?
If any of these questions cause sweat to break out on your brow, it’s time you started changing the culture in your church. If you don’t, you won’t get far in reaching today’s Young Adults. They’re color blind and they are searching for the genuine love of Jesus Christ in today’s churches. It’s a love without racial boundaries.
If they don’t find it, they will be gone before you can even begin to describe them.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Tribute to Gayle Williams
There are more important things than the stock market.
Or how busy you might be
Or the presidential election.
Or the price of gasoline.
Or fill in the blank of anything you might be doing today that has NO eternal significance.
Somebody important passed from Earth to Heaven on Monday, and I really know very little about her other than her name. Gayle Williams was an aid worker for an organization called Serve Afghanistan. She was 34 years old and she loved the outdoors and any kind of physical exercise. She held dual citizenship in South Africa and the UK.
She sometimes wore glasses, had beautiful red hair and was equipped with a great smile. I think she would have been a blast to get to know.
She was murdered in Kabul by two men on a motorcycle.
"This woman came to Afghanistan to teach Christianity to the people of Afghanistan," Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press. "Our [leaders] issued a decree to kill this woman."
People die every day in the name of Christ while we -- the church in America -- fret over any number of completely inconsquential issues.
Gayle has no worry of any kind today.
"For this reason they are before the throne of God,and they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary. The One seated on the throne will shelter them. They no longer will hunger; no longer will they thirst. No longer will the sun strike them, or any heat. Because the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them. He will guide them to springs of living waters and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17
So, Gayle is fine today.
We are the people in need -- of focus, fire and passion for the things of God.
It's time we got what Gayle lived during her days on Earth -- right now.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Power of Confronting Problems
After 44 years of life, I should have learned this by now, but I learned it afresh today.
When you have a problem, confront it -- head on.
For the past two weeks, I have been waking up in the middle of the night, worrying about a challenge I am facing. Roadblocks have been piled in the way day after day, making an imposing challenge seem completely impossible. It has caused a crisis of faith in my life, a crisis of commitment and a crisis in my family life. I felt like the ultimate ostrich, sticking my head in the sand and nearly asphxiating myself with the problems in the process.
I have been praying to God for wisdom, but I have been unwilling to put legs to what He was calling me to do -- talking it out.
Today, I sat down with two of my friends who are shareholders in this effort and talked through all of the roadblocks and what we could do to remove them.
About two hours of frank discussion later, we all feel better about the future and this challenge we are all facing together. They were refreshed to see that someone else had run into the everyday issues they face. I was refreshed because they saw the issues, acknowledged them and pledged to help me remove the roadblocks.
Sometimes, I am willing to turn my life upside down to avoid a tough conversation.
We have to have tough conversations, not only for us, but for the betterment of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When you have a problem, confront it -- head on.
For the past two weeks, I have been waking up in the middle of the night, worrying about a challenge I am facing. Roadblocks have been piled in the way day after day, making an imposing challenge seem completely impossible. It has caused a crisis of faith in my life, a crisis of commitment and a crisis in my family life. I felt like the ultimate ostrich, sticking my head in the sand and nearly asphxiating myself with the problems in the process.
I have been praying to God for wisdom, but I have been unwilling to put legs to what He was calling me to do -- talking it out.
Today, I sat down with two of my friends who are shareholders in this effort and talked through all of the roadblocks and what we could do to remove them.
About two hours of frank discussion later, we all feel better about the future and this challenge we are all facing together. They were refreshed to see that someone else had run into the everyday issues they face. I was refreshed because they saw the issues, acknowledged them and pledged to help me remove the roadblocks.
Sometimes, I am willing to turn my life upside down to avoid a tough conversation.
We have to have tough conversations, not only for us, but for the betterment of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Largest Freshman Class in History
A friend sent me a piece of information that rocked me back in my chair. This year’s freshman class of college students in the U.S. numbers 13.6 million, which is the largest in history. Who is going to introduce these to students to Christ, since there are only about 4,000 college ministers on campus?
The answer is “The Church.”
If you don’t have a ministry to college students in your church, start one. You can start small, with a single small group. Or you can start huge with a worship gathering, multiple small groups and a social justice team. Whatever you do, talk with campus ministers about how you might partner with them to make a difference on campus.Talk to other churches about how you can work together to accomplish the Great Commission on campus.
A few other things you might need to know:
7 in 10 students own a laptop.
6 in 10 watch TV online.
3 in 10 visit YouTube frequently, but Veoh, Hulu and Joost are climbing in their visibility.
A majority of college students expect 24-7 connectivity and rely on the web for communicating, socializing and entertaining themselves.
The bottom line: Your church and your ministry needs a well thought out, easy to navigate web site. You need video on your site. You need to be using Facebook, YouTube and a plethora of other sites to get the word out that college students are welcome in your body of believers.
One other thing to consider. If your church doesn’t have a concept of how to accomplish young adult ministry, you better get started. The 13.6 million college freshmen are going to begin appearing in your town looking for work once they get their diplomas. Is there a place for them in your ministry?
The answer is “The Church.”
If you don’t have a ministry to college students in your church, start one. You can start small, with a single small group. Or you can start huge with a worship gathering, multiple small groups and a social justice team. Whatever you do, talk with campus ministers about how you might partner with them to make a difference on campus.Talk to other churches about how you can work together to accomplish the Great Commission on campus.
A few other things you might need to know:
7 in 10 students own a laptop.
6 in 10 watch TV online.
3 in 10 visit YouTube frequently, but Veoh, Hulu and Joost are climbing in their visibility.
A majority of college students expect 24-7 connectivity and rely on the web for communicating, socializing and entertaining themselves.
The bottom line: Your church and your ministry needs a well thought out, easy to navigate web site. You need video on your site. You need to be using Facebook, YouTube and a plethora of other sites to get the word out that college students are welcome in your body of believers.
One other thing to consider. If your church doesn’t have a concept of how to accomplish young adult ministry, you better get started. The 13.6 million college freshmen are going to begin appearing in your town looking for work once they get their diplomas. Is there a place for them in your ministry?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A Crummy New York State of Mind
It's a dark day in my Nashville office. I have rolled up my Green Bay rug and hidden my Packers mug in the desk. Been shopping on NFL.com for the latest in FavreWear (above).Brett Favre has moved from the smallest market in the NFL to the largest, and Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy have lost a fan forever.
Favre will be fine. He may not have a great chance of turning a 4-12 team into a winner, but he'll be in the spotlight, where he thrives. It seems like a low pressure deal for him. If he plays badly, he's washed up -- which some people already believe. If he leads the Jets to the promised land, he'll be the toast of New York. I am thinking playoffs for the Jets. The man can't walk on water, but he's close.
It's not so easy for the Packers. They were a win away from the Super Bowl with my boy Brett a year ago. Now, they'll be expected to make the final step with Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn, all of whom have a combined ZERO starts at quarterback in the NFL.
The Packers will be fortunate to make the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers will be fortunate NOT to lose his mind. Thompson and McCarthy will be on their way out of Green Bay in a short period of time.
There is no sympathy for them here. They have traded the greatest Packer of all time for a fourth-round draft pick. They will get what they deserve.
The late great Lewis Grizzard wrote a comedy book entitled "They Tore Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat.''
That's exactly my sentiment today.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Honor Among Competitors
I admit I am a confirmed big three sports fan (baseball, football and basketball) in that order, but occasionally I see something riveting in another sport.
This past Friday night, one of those moments took place. Danny Way, Bob Burnquist and Jake Brown went head to head in the Skate Big Air competition in X Games 14, and I have never seen anything close to the drama they created.
First of all, they started off a ramp five or more stories high inside the Staples Center in L.A. and then they proceeded to attempt to kill themselves on skateboards. Way took a fall that would have landed me in the emergency room (pictured above) and then they all proceeded to push the envelope all the way to the edge.
But that was not the exceptional part of the evening. On every jump, the competitors cheered the others to a new height. This wasn't manufactured goodwill you see at times in the "major sports." This was the real deal. When Way fell, Burnquist jumped out immediately to check on him. When Way nailed an incredible run, Brown was interviewed and crowned Way the champion no matter how well he performed. When Burnquist nailed his gold medal winning jump, the first person to greet him with a hug was Way.
No egos. No bared teeth. Just great competition and celebration, with everyone lifting the other to greater achievement.
Don't you wish we all treated each other in this way -- in business, in faith and in life?
What if churches in our communities all worked together, cheering each other and celebrating the accomplishments of our Lord?
There's a ton we can learn from the X Games.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Why I Have a Man Crush on Brett Favre
John Madden and I have something in common.
No, I don't weigh 400 pounds and travel exclusively by RV.
I do have a man-crush on Brett Favre, though.
The question a friend of mine at LifeWay asked me this week is a good one. WHY?
There is a story here. First of all, my wife I and both are alumni of the University of Southern Mississippi, like the greatest quarterback of all time. Second, I actually knew Favre's late dad Irvin, because some of his former athletes at Hancock North Central played baseball with me at at Gulf Coast Community College. I am pretty sure I met Brett Favre when he was still in high school when he was making the rounds with his dad.
The third big reason is the best one, though.
The year was 1990 and I covered college football for the Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama's capital city newspaper. If you know about college football in the state of Alabama, you know the state is split down the middle between Auburn University and University of Alabama fans, many of whom have lost their ever-loving minds when it comes to this sport. If you don't pledge your undying allegiance to Bear Bryant (Crimson Tide) or yell War Eagle (Auburn) incessantly, you are unworthy of drawing a breath of life. I had people threaten my life over negative things I wrote about both sides. Seriously.
It was in this environment I covered college football. When my friends and newspaper readers found out I was a USM graduate, I was labeled incompetent to cover college football because this tiny school was not in the SEC and unworthy of any consideration by Alabama and Auburn folks. It made me a little crazy.
Six weeks before Alabama's home opener against USM, senior quarterback Brett Favre wrapped his car around a tree outside Hattiesburg and had 20 inches of his intestines removed as a result. He spent a week in the hospital. He lost 30 pounds.
Somehow, Favre led USM to a 27-24 win in Gene Stallings' first game as Alabama's head coach. What made it even better was that I assigned to cover the Southern Mississippi locker room and got a chance to do an interview with Favre. To cap it off, several weeks later, Favre followed up with a doubleheader sweep of the state, leading USM to 13-12 win over Auburn. Both of these were road games for Favre and the Golden Eagles, since at that time, none of the big boys wanted to "lower" themselves to come to Hattiesburg for a game.
So, in 1990, Southern Mississippi and Favre were the state champions of Alabama college football.
So, yes, Brett Favre has had a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Packers. Yes, he's won a Super Bowl. Yes, he will probably end up leaving the Packers for the Tampa Bay Bucs or the New York Jets.
But he earned my admiration long before he became a Packer. I became a fan when he put the USM football program on the map.
No, I don't weigh 400 pounds and travel exclusively by RV.
I do have a man-crush on Brett Favre, though.
The question a friend of mine at LifeWay asked me this week is a good one. WHY?
There is a story here. First of all, my wife I and both are alumni of the University of Southern Mississippi, like the greatest quarterback of all time. Second, I actually knew Favre's late dad Irvin, because some of his former athletes at Hancock North Central played baseball with me at at Gulf Coast Community College. I am pretty sure I met Brett Favre when he was still in high school when he was making the rounds with his dad.
The third big reason is the best one, though.
The year was 1990 and I covered college football for the Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama's capital city newspaper. If you know about college football in the state of Alabama, you know the state is split down the middle between Auburn University and University of Alabama fans, many of whom have lost their ever-loving minds when it comes to this sport. If you don't pledge your undying allegiance to Bear Bryant (Crimson Tide) or yell War Eagle (Auburn) incessantly, you are unworthy of drawing a breath of life. I had people threaten my life over negative things I wrote about both sides. Seriously.
It was in this environment I covered college football. When my friends and newspaper readers found out I was a USM graduate, I was labeled incompetent to cover college football because this tiny school was not in the SEC and unworthy of any consideration by Alabama and Auburn folks. It made me a little crazy.
Six weeks before Alabama's home opener against USM, senior quarterback Brett Favre wrapped his car around a tree outside Hattiesburg and had 20 inches of his intestines removed as a result. He spent a week in the hospital. He lost 30 pounds.
Somehow, Favre led USM to a 27-24 win in Gene Stallings' first game as Alabama's head coach. What made it even better was that I assigned to cover the Southern Mississippi locker room and got a chance to do an interview with Favre. To cap it off, several weeks later, Favre followed up with a doubleheader sweep of the state, leading USM to 13-12 win over Auburn. Both of these were road games for Favre and the Golden Eagles, since at that time, none of the big boys wanted to "lower" themselves to come to Hattiesburg for a game.
So, in 1990, Southern Mississippi and Favre were the state champions of Alabama college football.
So, yes, Brett Favre has had a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Packers. Yes, he's won a Super Bowl. Yes, he will probably end up leaving the Packers for the Tampa Bay Bucs or the New York Jets.
But he earned my admiration long before he became a Packer. I became a fan when he put the USM football program on the map.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A New View of Rain
This time last year in middle Tennessee, we were in the grip of a severe drought.
No rain. Multiple days of 100-degree plus weather. Brown grass. Brown trees. The creek behind my house dried up.
Depressing did not begin to capture what the heat and drought did to my mental outlook on life.
I know hot. I grew up in Mississippi, where heat and humidity can set your hair on fire, but where just about every afternoon you were hit with a thunderstorm to cool you off.
This was completely different. It felt like God had decided to vacation and had forgotten to leave the water running for us. I tried to keep my yard alive. I tried to keep some water around for the birds and wildlife in my yard. It didn't work, and all I got for my trouble was an enormous water bill. There is no substitute for rain.
Rain is mentioned more than 100 times in the Bible, and its absence is mentioned in lockstep with famine and with judgment. One of my favorite Old Testament passages, concerns Elijah and his request of God to keep the rain away for three years because of the sin of King Ahab. Eventually, God takes a very small cloud and turns it into a rainstorm that breaks the drought.
The prophet Jeremiah also attributes a drought that is cracking the ground to the people of Israel's wickedness and their failure to listen to God.
But then, there is also this great verse from the fairly obscure Book of Hosea:
"Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.'' Hosea 6:3
I am not sure what happened last summer in Middle Tennessee and in the Southeast U.S. It could have been climate change. It could have been a freak occurrence. It could have been anything. It certainly could have been God's judgment.
But here is one thing I do know. I remember clearly the day we first saw rain after months of drought. I saw the big drops hitting my windshield and a huge smile grew across my face. When I got out of my truck at home, I didn't rush to get inside. I watched it rain. I let it run down my face. I let it soak my shirt and pants. I watched the water flow into the dry creek bed. It was a great experience.
I have never looked at rain the same way since. Every time it rains, I smile. Every time it rains, I thank God for renewing the grass, trees and animals. Every time it rains, I am grateful.
For me, rain is one of the best descriptions of who God truly is. He refreshes. He cools. He washes away the dirt and sweat. Through his plan of salvation through Jesus, he washes away sin. He turns drought and famine into plenty. Hosea knew what he was talking about when he wrote that God will come to us like the rain, when we most need his refreshment.
Yesterday, it was 97 degrees at my house. Today, the forecast is for rain and cooler temperatures.
When that first raindrop falls, I will be smiling. And I will be thinking about how good God is to His children.
No rain. Multiple days of 100-degree plus weather. Brown grass. Brown trees. The creek behind my house dried up.
Depressing did not begin to capture what the heat and drought did to my mental outlook on life.
I know hot. I grew up in Mississippi, where heat and humidity can set your hair on fire, but where just about every afternoon you were hit with a thunderstorm to cool you off.
This was completely different. It felt like God had decided to vacation and had forgotten to leave the water running for us. I tried to keep my yard alive. I tried to keep some water around for the birds and wildlife in my yard. It didn't work, and all I got for my trouble was an enormous water bill. There is no substitute for rain.
Rain is mentioned more than 100 times in the Bible, and its absence is mentioned in lockstep with famine and with judgment. One of my favorite Old Testament passages, concerns Elijah and his request of God to keep the rain away for three years because of the sin of King Ahab. Eventually, God takes a very small cloud and turns it into a rainstorm that breaks the drought.
The prophet Jeremiah also attributes a drought that is cracking the ground to the people of Israel's wickedness and their failure to listen to God.
But then, there is also this great verse from the fairly obscure Book of Hosea:
"Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.'' Hosea 6:3
I am not sure what happened last summer in Middle Tennessee and in the Southeast U.S. It could have been climate change. It could have been a freak occurrence. It could have been anything. It certainly could have been God's judgment.
But here is one thing I do know. I remember clearly the day we first saw rain after months of drought. I saw the big drops hitting my windshield and a huge smile grew across my face. When I got out of my truck at home, I didn't rush to get inside. I watched it rain. I let it run down my face. I let it soak my shirt and pants. I watched the water flow into the dry creek bed. It was a great experience.
I have never looked at rain the same way since. Every time it rains, I smile. Every time it rains, I thank God for renewing the grass, trees and animals. Every time it rains, I am grateful.
For me, rain is one of the best descriptions of who God truly is. He refreshes. He cools. He washes away the dirt and sweat. Through his plan of salvation through Jesus, he washes away sin. He turns drought and famine into plenty. Hosea knew what he was talking about when he wrote that God will come to us like the rain, when we most need his refreshment.
Yesterday, it was 97 degrees at my house. Today, the forecast is for rain and cooler temperatures.
When that first raindrop falls, I will be smiling. And I will be thinking about how good God is to His children.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Finding Hope at BK
After full day of church-related activity, I found myself in need of food at 9 p.m. Sunday. I rolled over to Burger King, got myself a Steakhouse Burger and found something that changed my life. In the top of my sack, there was a note citing my reason for being deserving of devouring this fine sandwich. According to BK, I am now the Keeper of the Eternal Flame of Hope. I am taking this very seriously. So, here are some reasons for hope today in the dog days of July:
Brett Favre is coming back.
Gas prices have dropped from $3.95 a gallon to $3.93 a gallon in my neighborhood.
The St. Louis Cardinals are 14 games over .500 and Albert Pujols in hitting .359. Plus, the Cubs have lost three of their last four. I hate the Cubs.
Barack Obama has raised more than $272 million in campaign donations, so he’s got gas money for the next couple of months. Good for him.
John McCain is promising me and you $5K in tax relief is if I buy a zero omissions car next year. I’m looking at a Chevy Volt or an EZGO golf cart.
Run’s House — the best reality show on TV — started a new season last week.
Josh Hamilton told a gazillion people watching the Home Run Derby last week that his grandmother and Jesus pulled his life out of the sewer.
The real Burger King — the creepy dude behind the mask and in costume — is a believer and a good guy. He runs small groups for a church in NYC.
I watched a guy who did not know Jesus Christ a year ago leave to go on his first mission trip as a believer Saturday.
My wife is finally able to sleep through the night after having lung surgery three months ago.
Seeing that prayer answered gives me hope.
There is nothing you can do that will separate you from the love of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
There, I believe I am fulfilling my duty to BK for the day.
Brett Favre is coming back.
Gas prices have dropped from $3.95 a gallon to $3.93 a gallon in my neighborhood.
The St. Louis Cardinals are 14 games over .500 and Albert Pujols in hitting .359. Plus, the Cubs have lost three of their last four. I hate the Cubs.
Barack Obama has raised more than $272 million in campaign donations, so he’s got gas money for the next couple of months. Good for him.
John McCain is promising me and you $5K in tax relief is if I buy a zero omissions car next year. I’m looking at a Chevy Volt or an EZGO golf cart.
Run’s House — the best reality show on TV — started a new season last week.
Josh Hamilton told a gazillion people watching the Home Run Derby last week that his grandmother and Jesus pulled his life out of the sewer.
The real Burger King — the creepy dude behind the mask and in costume — is a believer and a good guy. He runs small groups for a church in NYC.
I watched a guy who did not know Jesus Christ a year ago leave to go on his first mission trip as a believer Saturday.
My wife is finally able to sleep through the night after having lung surgery three months ago.
Seeing that prayer answered gives me hope.
There is nothing you can do that will separate you from the love of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
There, I believe I am fulfilling my duty to BK for the day.
Friday, July 18, 2008
My Solution to the Price of Gasoline
I thought this post might give you a good idea of who I am, instead of some boring introduction.
I have an idea about to solve our current gasoline pricing crisis. Fifty dollars a barrel sounds like a reasonable price for a barrel of oil for the United States to pay. If you're our friend, then the price is $50 a barrel. At this price, we help you militarily, with economic aid, food, technology, etc., the usual way the United States helps out the rest of the world. Glad to do it.
If you aren't willing to sell us oil at $50 barrel, congratulations, you are our enemy. Be prepared for us to take the oil we need from you at the price we decide is reasonable. People of Venuzuela, decide who you like better -- America or Hugo Chavez? If you give us the wrong answer, we will take your oil and take over your country. Go ahead, riot in the streets and call us imperialists. Frankly, I don't care. I do care the hard-earned money from my neighbors, my trucker friends and my wallet is going to purchase solid gold bathroom fixtures in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. Do you realize it costs $18 a barrel for our friends in Kuwait -- who we helped rescue from Saddam Hussein -- to get oil out of the ground. They now sell it for $130 a barrel. That's quite a profit margin. By the way, did they ever pay us back for bailing them out?
Iran, same song, second verse. Decide if you are our friend or our enemy, then be prepared to accept the consequences. Putin and Russia, ditto.
In addition, let's start using the new horizontal oil drilling technology available to us to tap the huge shale deposit in North Dakota. Why not start today? There is enough oil available in that deposit to keep our economy running for 30 years or more. The people in the Dakotas could use the economic boost this would surely provide.
I have an idea about to solve our current gasoline pricing crisis. Fifty dollars a barrel sounds like a reasonable price for a barrel of oil for the United States to pay. If you're our friend, then the price is $50 a barrel. At this price, we help you militarily, with economic aid, food, technology, etc., the usual way the United States helps out the rest of the world. Glad to do it.
If you aren't willing to sell us oil at $50 barrel, congratulations, you are our enemy. Be prepared for us to take the oil we need from you at the price we decide is reasonable. People of Venuzuela, decide who you like better -- America or Hugo Chavez? If you give us the wrong answer, we will take your oil and take over your country. Go ahead, riot in the streets and call us imperialists. Frankly, I don't care. I do care the hard-earned money from my neighbors, my trucker friends and my wallet is going to purchase solid gold bathroom fixtures in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. Do you realize it costs $18 a barrel for our friends in Kuwait -- who we helped rescue from Saddam Hussein -- to get oil out of the ground. They now sell it for $130 a barrel. That's quite a profit margin. By the way, did they ever pay us back for bailing them out?
Iran, same song, second verse. Decide if you are our friend or our enemy, then be prepared to accept the consequences. Putin and Russia, ditto.
In addition, let's start using the new horizontal oil drilling technology available to us to tap the huge shale deposit in North Dakota. Why not start today? There is enough oil available in that deposit to keep our economy running for 30 years or more. The people in the Dakotas could use the economic boost this would surely provide.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
An Encouraging Word
I had the opportunity to preach at my church (Hermitage Hills Baptist Church) a little while back and really enjoyed talking about the idea of encouragement.
There are way too many people sowing seeds of discouragement instead of hope. When I wrote about sports for a living, I remember former Alabama football coach Bill Curry labeling the pessimistic souls who always thought the worst of any situation, the "Fellowship of the Miserable."
It seems like we have a full house in that club these days, including the media and most of our politicans.
How about stirring the pot with a little HOPE!
The poster boy for encouragement in the Bible, was a man named Joseph, who went by the nickname of Barnabas or Son of Encouragement.
The Bible does not record much of his actual words, but in the Book of Acts you catch a great sense of who he really was. He sells a piece of land and donates all of the proceeds to the church. He takes a risk by adopting and mentoring early Christianity's Public Enemy No. 1 --Paul -- after his Damascus Road experience. He convinces the rest of the apostles that Paul can be trusted and Paul is on his way to becoming the world's greatest evangelist.
Later in Acts, we see Barnabas again giving a problem person a second chance. This time it's John Mark, who left Paul and Barnabas hanging on a mission trip. Ironically, Paul washes his hands of John Mark, but it's Barnabas again who extends hope and another opportunity to a young believer.
If I died today, I would want inscribed on my headstone, Son of Encouragement. Barnabas had the right idea, and I think he was a driver behind the explosive growth of the New Testament church.
Encourage someone today. Become your local distributor of hope.
There are way too many people sowing seeds of discouragement instead of hope. When I wrote about sports for a living, I remember former Alabama football coach Bill Curry labeling the pessimistic souls who always thought the worst of any situation, the "Fellowship of the Miserable."
It seems like we have a full house in that club these days, including the media and most of our politicans.
How about stirring the pot with a little HOPE!
The poster boy for encouragement in the Bible, was a man named Joseph, who went by the nickname of Barnabas or Son of Encouragement.
The Bible does not record much of his actual words, but in the Book of Acts you catch a great sense of who he really was. He sells a piece of land and donates all of the proceeds to the church. He takes a risk by adopting and mentoring early Christianity's Public Enemy No. 1 --Paul -- after his Damascus Road experience. He convinces the rest of the apostles that Paul can be trusted and Paul is on his way to becoming the world's greatest evangelist.
Later in Acts, we see Barnabas again giving a problem person a second chance. This time it's John Mark, who left Paul and Barnabas hanging on a mission trip. Ironically, Paul washes his hands of John Mark, but it's Barnabas again who extends hope and another opportunity to a young believer.
If I died today, I would want inscribed on my headstone, Son of Encouragement. Barnabas had the right idea, and I think he was a driver behind the explosive growth of the New Testament church.
Encourage someone today. Become your local distributor of hope.
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